Hoa — a fairy tale about the world of nature and the world of machines
Published on August 8, 2026
If you love the works of Studio Ghibli and Hayao Miyazaki, you will fall in love with this game the moment you see it.
Beautiful hand-drawn art, a wonderful soundtrack, and a kind story — it recalls Spirited Away, My Neighbor Totoro, Princess Mononoke and Nausicaä all at once.
In the story, you play as a little fairy who has returned to her native forest, the one she left when she was still a child. Something terrible seems to have happened back then — and on your way you will meet the forest dwellers who remember those events and will tell you the story of what happened.
Gameplay
Just like Night Lights, this is a small 2D platformer that takes a few hours to finish. The mechanics are very standard — run, jump, talk.
As you progress, new skills unlock that let you push heavy objects, jump higher, jump further, and even glide. All of this opens the way forward through the story.
The game is split into 6 chapters, and each chapter is its own unique world: a meeting with a character, and, in the early chapters, a new ability.
Graphics
The visual part is one of the most special things about this game. Hand-drawn graphics, like the best storybook animation, will leave no one indifferent. Mesmerising landscapes, sky, water, greenery, adorable little creatures — it is all woven together into a single visual narrative so seamlessly that you simply dissolve into the game world, completely and utterly.
Sound & Music
Magnificent live music, just like in Miyazaki’s and Studio Ghibli’s anime. It creates a fairy-tale atmosphere and fits the art style and the pace of the game perfectly. Most importantly — it is a live-recorded orchestra:
In the words of its creators: “Captivatingly story-telling and emotionally-charged, Hoa’s exceptional score, originally composed and live-recorded, brings its world to life with a touch of nostalgia.”
Atmosphere
My main impression is that everything in this game comes together: hand-drawn art, orchestral music, an unhurried pace. Together they create that very feeling you return to your favourite childhood fairy tales for: warm, kind, a little nostalgic.
The game never rushes you: no danger, no fail states — just a quiet journey through the forest and meetings with its inhabitants. That is why Atmosphere earns the highest mark from me.
Replayability
The game has 18 achievements, but none of them require hunting through locations or collecting items — everything unlocks naturally as you follow the story.
Its replayability is that of beloved childhood fairy tales: you can play it again whenever you want to step away from the everyday rush and sink into the peaceful world of Hoa.
Tips
I would raise children on games like this. It is perfect for the whole family: it is not difficult — even kids can handle it — and it is a joy both to play and to watch.
The only difficulty appears in the final chapter: the controls periodically flip left-to-right and top-to-bottom, so you will have to work through some spots. Otherwise, it is simply the sweetest journey through a fairy-tale world.
And a pleasant bonus to finish: a sequel has already been announced on the official website — Hoa 2. The fairy tale continues. 🌸
That is all from me.
Thanks for reading — go play Hoa, it’s a good game!
You can watch my playthrough here.